Validate iCal URL via iCal Validator
Ensure you’re using the correct URL that returns a file in iCal format. The URL ends in .ics. Other URLs won’t work. To validate that the generated iCal URL is correct, visit iCalendar validator project at iCalendar.org.
- Paste the iCal URL into the “URL” field.
- Click the “Validate” button.
- Check the test results. If the iCal URL passes the validator, you will see a green box notification: “Success! No errors found.” You can also see the number of events contained in the URL.
Using Correct iCal URL
Ensure you are using the correct URL for the correct room/property. Each iCal URL only corresponds to the data of one room. Therefore, each iCal URL can only be added to one room and cannot be reused.
Your WordPress site must be online and public
To sync booking data, your WordPress website must be online and public at the same time:
- Your WordPress site cannot be in a local development environment.
- Your WordPress site must be live (not in maintenance mode), and the calendar must be accessible via URL (cannot be accessed only by logged-in users of your WordPress site).
Data is not synchronized immediately
For external calendar import, you can set up automatic synchronization. The minimum interval for automatic synchronization can be set to 15 minutes. If you want to see the imported data faster, you can navigate to “Rooms” > “iCal Sync” > in the “Sync Calendars” tab > Click “Sync All External Calendars” button.
For exporting calendars from your WordPress site to other websites/applications, each platform may have its own auto-sync interval. For example, Airbnb calendar automatically updates every 3 hours, while Google Calendar takes longer (maybe up to 24 hours or more). You can check with these websites/applications if necessary. They may also offer the option of manual updates.
Only bookings will be synced, not blocked dates
Bookings exist as “Events” in the calendar. Usually blocked dates exist as “Status“. When synchronizing via iCal URL, only “Events” will be synchronized, but “Status” cannot be synchronized.
Therefore, dates you block on your WordPress site will not be able to be imported and displayed on other sites/apps. If you need to block dates on other websites/apps, you need to block them manually.
The external calendar is updated but no bookings are imported
Make sure that the external calendar’s iCal URL contains at least one booking. Visit iCalendar validator project at iCalendar.org, enter the iCal URL to verify, and check if any events (bookings) appear in the results.
Cannot Import Calendar to TripAdvisor
Please contact TripAdvisor support team for assistance, here are the instructions from their official documentation:
If the ICal you wish to enter is not provided by a larger platform, but, for example, an ICal from your personal website, we may not have the used provider on our calendar whitelist, and you won’t be able to add it yourself.
To get you calendars synced up, please contact us with the ICal link you’d like to add and the property ID, and we’re happy to assist you.
– From TripAdvisor